Reviewed By Sadonna

TITLE: The Fall of Elijah Gray

SERIES:  Moonlight Falls

AUTHOR: Colette Rivera

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 140 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 3, 2024

BLURB:

Focus on magic (not the hot chef) and everything will be fine.

Elijah Gray didn’t want to end up back in Moonlight Falls, but when he’s sent to the spooky small town as part of his magical research, he has no choice but to return home.

Parker Hayes is Eli’s brother’s best friend. He’s older, a powerful magical practitioner, and a pillar of the Moonlight Falls community. Eli has known Parker for years and isn’t sure why it feels like he’s never seen Parker properly…

Until now.

Eli has always considered himself straight, but he’s flustered around Parker. He’s noticing Parker in ways straight guys don’t usually think about other men.

He wants Parker but will never act on it. Something casual with his brother’s best friend would be a mistake, and anything more would mean accepting life in a town he can’t wait to escape.

All Eli has to do is ignore his new, confusing desires until he leaves Moonlight Falls. But every casual touch from Parker feels like a revelation, and Eli can’t help wondering if letting himself fall would be so bad.

***
The Fall of Elijah Gray is a stand alone prequel novella to the Moonlight Falls Trilogy. This MM paranormal romance ends in an HEA and is perfect for fans of the small town, age gap, and brother’s best friend tropes. CW’s can be found using the look inside feature and on the author’s website.

REVIEW:

Eli Gray has returned home from college in LA to his Northern California home town of Moonlight Falls to study the magic vein the runs through the town.  He’s not too excited about it and from his perspective it’s a temporary visit to do his research.  He’s staying with his older brother James in their grandmother’s home – his childhood home and bedroom.  He’s got a part time job at the local diner owned by his brother’s best friend Parker.

Eli is surprised by how awkward he feels around Parker.  He’s always kind of felt like a third-wheel/hanger-on with his brother’s friend, but Parker seems genuinely happy that he’s back and working at the diner.  While he’s avoided spending time with James and Parker when they hang out, he starts to feel a bit bad about it.  But the more time he spends with Parker, the feelings he is experience are changing to . . . attraction??  He’s always assumed he was straight.  Turns out maybe not so much?  He’s always recognized good looking guys but he assumed everyone did, straight or not.  He freaks out a little bit a first.  Not about the attraction but that he truly didn’t realize and he wonders why that is.

Parker continues to make Eli feel welcome and he also helps him with his research.  He seems to take on a protective role although not in a “brotherly” sort of way 😉  Eli gives in to his feelings for Parker and pretty soon they are a real couple.  Things are going pretty good in that area, but there seems to be some sort of sinister goings on with the shades.  They appear to be following and attacking Eli in a way that is unusual.  Eli is determined to figure out what is going on.  And he’s also determined to stay with Parker 😉

This is a good setup for a new series coming soon 🙂  I really liked Eli and Parker, the MCs of this story.  The story is told from Eli’s POV (not first person) and his motivation for staying away and coming back to Moonlight Falls are well described.  Parker has always considered himself Eli’s friend too and his feelings have been growing over time.  Eli is the one who is surprised by recognizing his sexuality and wanting Parker.  They make a good team along with James and Hazel, James other best friend.  I am intrigued by the magic here and what is causing the shades to react to Eli in such a way.  The there is the added mystery of Sebastian Storm.  I’m looking forward to the series and learning more about this universe.  Recommended especially for fans of spooky magic 🙂

RATING:  

BUY LINKS:  

Amazon